Chapter 6: One Shot to Kill the Fake, Giving Homelander a Warning
Just then, the Homelander who had been unconscious on the carpet moved. His eyelids snapped open. There was no confusion in those blue eyes from just waking up, only a kind of ignited, scorching rage. He had heard. He had heard every word.
"You bastard—"
His voice squeezed out from deep in his throat, hoarse and low, like magma churning beneath the earth's crust. His body sprang up from the carpet with a speed that didn't look like he had just suffered a heavy injury.
"I'm going to kill you!"
Before the words were even finished, he had already lunged out. Fists clenched, his whole body was like a lit missile, charging straight at Fake.
Fake lifted his head. On that twisted face, a manic smile completed a switch in a fraction of a second—from the ashes of despair, a kind of morbid, almost grateful ecstasy ignited once more.
"Yes—that's it—"
He roared, charging forward as well.
Two blue figures collided in mid-air.
Boom—
The shockwave exploded from the point of impact. The desk was overturned, documents flew everywhere, crystal glasses rolled off the coffee table and shattered into debris. The remaining glass shards from the floor-to-ceiling window were swept up by the blast, shooting in all directions like shrapnel.
Edgar had just propped himself up from the sofa when the violent shockwave slammed hard into his chest.
He was instantly sent flying, his back hitting the wall heavily. A muffled groan was suppressed in his throat as he slid down to the floor in a sorry state. His expensive suit was stained with glass shards and whiskey, looking utterly disheveled. He tried to push himself up from the floor, but his knees kept slipping on the smooth carpet, unable to stand steady.
"Stop!"
Edgar roared sharply, his usually calm and restrained voice losing control for the first time. "You two—stop!"
No one obeyed his command.
In a flash, Homelander's heavy fist smashed into Fake's face.
Fake's head was knocked to one side, a trail of blood from his nose arcing through the air. But Fake didn't retreat; he slammed his forehead into the center of Homelander's brow, emitting a dull sound of bone on bone.
The two entangled instantly, crashing from the center of the office all the way to the wall. The hard wall cracked layer by layer, concrete chunks peeled off with a rustle, and exposed rebar twisted and vibrated, emitting a shrill metallic wail. The fight didn't stop; the two crashed straight into the broken floor-to-ceiling window.
"I said stop!!"
Edgar stood up with difficulty, leaning against the wall, his voice hoarse and dry, filled with powerless reprimand.
The furious Homelander completely ignored him.
All rationality and calculation had faded from his eyes, leaving only the most primitive, most insane predatory instinct after his bottom line had been completely shredded, locking onto the Fake before him.
And Fake's smile became even more ferocious as it was soaked in blood. Blood flowed continuously along his split lips, but he didn't feel the pain, morbidly indulging in this long-awaited slaughter.
The next instant, the two inseparable figures broke through the floor-to-ceiling window together, charging into the deep night.
Above the night sky, two identical blue figures fought crazily, locked in a death struggle. Fists and kicks collided explosively, red Heat Vision clashed repeatedly, carving blinding, dazzling trajectories across the pitch-black sky. The higher they fought, the further they went, like two out-of-control, destructive meteors, carrying violent power as they crashed toward the other end of the city.
The clamor faded, and the ruined top-floor office finally returned to silence.
Only Marcus stood where he was, having not moved from start to finish. The terrifying shockwave that swept through the whole room overturned tables and chairs and shattered objects, but it hadn't even blown a corner of his clothes.
He glanced at Edgar, who was panting while supporting his knees against the wall, and then at the distant light spots in the night sky.
He didn't chase after them.
Edgar looked toward the distance with a pale face. Explosions echoed one after another over the city, red Heat Vision tore through the night sky, and flashes of fire rose one after another, illuminating half the horizon red.
He had helmed Vought and governed superhumans for decades, always planning and plotting, but he had never been as deeply powerless as he was at this moment. His two top combatants were completely out of control, slaughtering each other in the city; if he let the situation fester, the image the group had painstakingly built for years would be completely shattered, and the situation would slide into the abyss.
He turned his head slowly, his gaze falling on Marcus, who had been standing still from beginning to end. At present, only this person before him possessed the power to stop the disaster.
Edgar suppressed the raging waves in his heart, his tone steadying again, though it carried a bit more gravity: "Sir, as long as you can stop them, I can satisfy any reasonable condition you propose."
"Any?" Marcus spoke faintly.
"Within my authority, I will satisfy them all." Edgar did not hesitate at all.
"Even if it means handing Vought over to me, that's fine?"
Edgar's Adam's apple bobbed, his tone calm but honest: "I cannot make the final decision for Vought alone. But all my personal shares under my name can be transferred to you."
Marcus was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "I will go stop them. But I have no interest in running the company; you can keep the shares yourself. When I have a need in the future, I will come directly to you."
Edgar was stunned, not expecting Marcus to actually give up the Vought shares. However, he reacted very quickly and immediately stated: "I understand. In the future, if you have any needs, Vought will cooperate fully."
Marcus said no more, exerted force under his feet, leaped out of the window, and followed the continuous explosions, heading straight for the center of the two superhumans' fight.
Edgar leaned against the window frame, watching the figure disappear into the night sky, and let out a long breath. The crisis had a turning point for now, but he knew in his heart that from now on, Vought had an existence that surpassed everyone.
He immediately dialed the internal special line, urgently arranging personnel to control the scene, appease public opinion, and prepare for the worst-case scenario.
On the other side, the downtown area where the battle took place had already turned into ruins. Buildings were broken and crumbling, the road was full of deep craters, and burning vehicles were emitting rolling black smoke.
Homelander and Fake were blinded by bloodlust, red Heat Vision constantly colliding and sweeping, causing buildings to collapse wherever they passed. The two were completely immersed in the slaughter, turning a blind eye to the crying and chaos around them.
Marcus's figure crossed several kilometers of night sky after a while and arrived directly at the city center where the battle was raging.
He landed steadily right in the middle of the two crazily entangled blue figures.
The battlefield suddenly stalled.
The furious Homelander stopped abruptly. The moment he saw who it was, the killing intent in his eyes surged again. He stared fixedly at Marcus and roared sharply: "It's you again!"
Before the words were finished, he carried terrifying impact force and smashed a fist hard at Marcus's face.
Marcus tilted his body slightly, easily dodging the heavy punch that could tear down a building.
The next second, he raised his hand and delivered a crisp, clean straight punch, accurately smashing into Homelander's face.
Bang!
A dull, loud noise.
The powerful force poured out instantly, and Homelanderwas sent flying, smashing heavily onto the ruined ground, rolling several meters away. For a while, he was dizzy and couldn't get up for a long time.
Fake, who was on the side, saw this, and instead of being afraid, an expression of extreme madness erupted on his face.
He didn't say a word, his eyes red, and with a ferocity of wanting to perish together, he charged straight at Marcusat full speed!
This time, Marcus did not hold back at all.
Facing the charging Fake, he raised his hand and struck directly, punching through Fake's chest.
Blood spurted out instantly.
The crazy smile on Fake's face froze, and his body completely lost its vitality.
Marcus pulled his arm out expressionlessly and tossed Fake's corpse into the nearby ruins.
At this time, Homelander, who had been knocked over by the punch, gritted his teeth and climbed up from the ground, his face full of hostility, about to rush up again.
Marcus looked at him faintly and said in an icy tone: "If you want to die, keep coming."
Homelander's movements suddenly froze.
He stared blankly at the motionless, completely dead Fakebeside him, and the rage in his heart was instantly extinguished by extreme, cold fear.
The opponent who could fight him to a standstill and remain entangled for a long time had actually been killed in one move by this person in front of him.
At this moment, the towering rage was completely extinguished.
He didn't dare to take another step forward.
Looking at the completely calmed down Homelander who didn't dare to act rashly, Marcus spoke slowly: "I made a deal with Edgar to specifically solve the trouble of you two."
"Now, the matter is resolved. You can go back."
His gaze deepened, his tone carrying an indisputable warning: "Keep your temper in check. I don't want this deal to be voided in a few days."
After saying this, Marcus didn't spare another glance at the stunned Homelander, his figure took off into the air, breaking through the sky and leaving.
On the entire messy battlefield, only Homelander, full of fear and covered in disarray, was left standing alone in the devastated ruins.
Chapter 7: A Brand New Ability, I'm Really Becoming a Superman
Three days later, the hustle and bustle of the city had long since returned to normal. The television in the living room was playing the noon news, replaying clips of the fierce battle in the city three days ago, while the anchor articulated the official narrative in a clear, measured voice.
"Three days ago, a superpower conflict broke out in the downtown area. A shapeshifter skilled in mimicry deliberately disguised themselves and ambushed Homelander, attempting to take his place. The incident happened suddenly, and Homelander was momentarily caught off guard. In the critical moment, an extraterrestrial visitor stepped forward. This individual has been officially named Cosmic Superman by the authorities. The two joined forces, successfully killing the dangerous shapeshifter and smoothly resolving the city's crisis."
As the news continued, the crisp sound of the doorbell suddenly rang.
Marcus, who had been leaning on the sofa, slowly stood up and walked to the door to open it. Standing outside was a man in a crisp suit, holding a sealed metal case in one hand and a food container in the other, his attitude respectful.
"Mr. Wayne, the compound v and the Original compound vyou requested are all here, along with the Chinese food you ordered."
Marcus reached out to take the case and the food, saying indifferently, "Thanks."
His figure flickered, and with his extreme speed, he placed both items on the living room table in an instant. He then returned to the door and handed over a thick stack of dollars—a five-thousand-dollar tip. Without waiting for the man in the suit to say another word, and ignoring the look on his face, he simply raised his hand and closed the villa door.
With the noise from outside cut off, the living room returned to silence.
Marcus turned and walked to the table, looking down at the items on it. The two sealed cases containing compound v and the Original compound v were treasures that countless ordinary people on Earth dreamed of their entire lives, yearning to change their fate against the heavens.
But for a Viltrumite with top-tier racial talents and innate, formidable combat power, the temptation was not great.
He glanced at the cases, then withdrew his gaze, turning his attention to the still-warm Chinese food on the side. Compared to the serums, a piping hot meal of Chinese food was, to him, the most substantial thing at this moment.
Marcus opened the food container, picked up his chopsticks, and put a piece of spare ribs into his mouth, his brows relaxing slightly.
Finally, he had eaten authentic Chinese food. In the few days since coming to The Boys Universe, he had tried several restaurants, but the taste was always unsatisfactory, lacking any authentic, genuine flavor.
The warm, flavorful food slid down his throat, dispelling the compromise and boredom of the past few days.
The taste from his memories gave him a great appetite, and in just a short while, he had eaten the entire meal clean.
After cleaning up the food containers, his gaze returned to the metal cases on the table. He pondered to himself: compound v could modify the human body and catalyze various superpowers, but he didn't know what kind of ability it would awaken when used on himself.
The Viltrumite body was already formidable; if he received further physical enhancement, it would be meaningless. But if he awakened abilities like Heat Vision or mental power—abilities the Viltrumite race did not possess—that would be a tangible gain, making his combat power even more comprehensive.
Marcus reached out and undid the latches on the metal case. The lid slowly opened, and two streams of cool air drifted out from the opening. Aside from two well-sealed compound v syringes, there was a white instruction note pressed to the bottom of the case.
It clearly listed the normal reactions after injecting the serum: burning sensation throughout the body, swelling of blood vessels, and muscle soreness were all normal phenomena during the human body modification process, and there was no need to panic.
He understood, reached out, picked up a compound vsyringe, aimed it at the skin of his arm, and gently pricked it.
The expected sensation of piercing did not occur.
The hard needle could not penetrate his skin, as if it had poked against an extremely tough alloy.
He was stunned for a moment. He looked down at the bent needle, then at his own unscathed skin. Only then did he remember that the body density and strength of Viltrumites far exceeded that of Earth humans, and the needles of conventional syringes could not penetrate it at all.
Since injection wouldn't work, he peeled off the seal of the syringe, planning to try a different method.
"I wonder if oral administration will have any effect." He muttered to himself, his voice indifferent, "If it doesn't work, I'll have to ask Edgar for a few more bottles."
As his voice fell, he tilted his head back and drank the entire tube of dark blue serum.
The serum slid down his esophagus into his body, and there was no abnormality throughout the process. The burning sensation, swelling, and muscle soreness described on the note were completely absent; his body remained as calm as if nothing had happened.
Marcus's expression was calm; he already understood the reason. With the formidable physique and body of a Viltrumite, this compound v, which was specifically developed to modify Earth humans, was too mild and weak in its medicinal properties to cause any stimulation to his body, so naturally, he couldn't perceive the slightest change.
He didn't take the matter to heart, casually cleaned up the empty syringe, turned around, sat on the sofa, turned on the game console, and leisurely passed the time.
Time passed slowly, and several hours flew by in an instant. Just as he was focused on the game, a gentle and special, strange warm current suddenly swirled within his body.
Marcus immediately stopped his movements, and with a light thought, an attribute panel that only he could see appeared before his eyes.
The original basic attributes on the panel had not experienced any leap-forward surge after these few days of settling.
[Super Strength: Level 4 (8%)]
[Super Durability: Level 4 (19%)]
[Super Mind: Level 4 (50%)]
[Super Speed: Level 4 (9%)]
Compared to the previous values, the increase in the four basic abilities was negligible, almost insignificant. But at the very bottom of the attribute list, a brand-new ability that had never existed before had appeared.
[Bio-field: Level 1 (1%)]
Seeing the new ability, Marcus instantly thought of the Bio-field of Superman from the DC comics in his previous life. He hadn't expected that compound v would actually help him awaken an ability that Viltrumites did not naturally possess.
Filled with curiosity, he immediately got up, flew out of the villa, and tested the ability at low altitude in the uninhabited suburbs. He continuously increased his flight speed, approaching the sound barrier limit bit by bit, repeatedly trying and exploring the patterns.
After several tests, Marcus completely figured out the effects of the Bio-field at the current stage.
This invisible, close-fitting energy barrier could smoothly divert the air around his body and buffer the shockwaves of sonic booms.
As long as his flight speed did not exceed twice the speed of sound, the entire process would be silent, without producing any ear-piercing sonic booms, nor would it shatter surrounding scenery.
Only when breaking the limit of twice the speed of sound would the force field be unable to completely counteract the air pressure, resulting in a slight roaring sound.
After confirming the characteristics and limits of the Bio-field, Marcus returned to the villa, satisfied.
Since the regular version of compound v could bring such a surprising harvest, the effect of the Original compound v, which was purer and more domineering, would surely be even stronger.
Without any hesitation, he picked up the last tube of Original compound v in the metal case, which shimmered with a pale blue luster, peeled off the seal, and drank the entire tube of serum in one go.
Only a few minutes later.
The layer of Bio-field that had just been born within his body, which was thin and weak, had clearly become full and solid. Marcus moved his mind, and the attribute panel appeared again.
[Bio-field: Level 1 (80%)]
Scanning the panel, he was secretly surprised. The four basic attributes had not changed, but the Bio-field that had just been born had actually surged directly from 1% to 80%; the increase was astonishing.
He cleaned up the empty serum tube. After a brief silence, Marcus got up and walked out of the villa, intending to use the cover of night to familiarize himself with this brand-new power.
Chapter 8: Soothing Homelander, Heading to the Rescue Mission
The night passed in the blink of an eye.
By noon the next day, sunlight bathed the entire city.
After a night of practice, Marcus had grasped the limits of his current Bio-field. With his Bio-field at 80% of Level 1, as long as his flight speed did not exceed 4.5 times the speed of sound, he would not generate any sonic booms. After a brief rest, he had a plan in mind and decided to head to Vought Tower to find Edgar.
Meanwhile, at Vought, in Madelyn Stillwell's office.
Madelyn Stillwell had just received urgent news. Transoceanic Flight 37, flying from Paris to Chicago, had been hijacked at an altitude of ten thousand meters, and ground rescue forces were completely helpless.
She calculated in her mind that if Homelander could successfully resolve this crisis, it would reverse public opinion and dilute the negative impact of the conflict from a few days ago. Having made up her mind, she immediately set off for Homelander's private suite.
Lately, Homelander was filled with resentment and hatred for everyone at Vought, wishing he could wipe them all out. However, Marcus's previous warning hung over him like a sword of Damocles; the fear of death kept him from acting recklessly, forcing him to lock himself in his room to escape everything.
The curtains in the suite were drawn tight, and the light was dim. Homelander stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to the door.
He was wearing his blue spandex suit, his pants draped casually over a chair. His right hand hung at his side. His left hand was twitching frantically.
He kept muttering something, his voice hoarse, as if talking to himself, or perhaps to the curtains.
"I am perfect."
"I am the strongest."
"I am one of a kind."
His voice suddenly rose, becoming sharp, like a tightly stretched string vibrating.
"I can do whatever the f*ck I want!"
The door was suddenly pushed open, the sound interrupting his state. Without turning his head, Homelander shouted furiously, "Dammit, who let you in? Get out!"
"Homelander, it's me. I need to talk to you." Madelyn Stillwell's voice rang out.
Hearing this, Homelander paused, then slowly turned his head, his gaze landing on Madelyn Stillwell. The atmosphere in the room instantly became incredibly awkward and tense.
The air was deathly silent for half a second.
Then, Homelander's eyes instantly filled with panic and shame, followed immediately by extreme, overwhelming rage.
He didn't have time to compose himself or hide; he had been caught by Madelyn Stillwell in his dirtiest, most cowardly, and most pathological state.
His eyes were bloodshot, his breathing heavy, and he stared fixedly at Madelyn Stillwell, his voice hoarse and trembling, carrying a maddening sense of oppression:
"Were you spying on me?"
Without waiting for an answer, his emotions exploded; paranoia, inferiority, and rage were all written on his face.
"Everyone is lying to me! Everyone is using me!"
"You want to control me! You want to leash me!"
"But I am perfect! I am a god! No one can control me!"
He spoke faster and faster, his emotions becoming increasingly manic, and he was on the verge of losing control.
Yet, even though he was shaking with rage, he still didn't dare to actually attack.
Marcus's warning was like a knife pressed hard against his throat.
He hated everyone, but he had even been stripped of the right to vent his anger.
This extreme frustration and resentment almost made him completely collapse.
Madelyn Stillwell watched the manic, near-unhinged Homelander before her. There was not a trace of panic on her face, nor was she in a rush to talk about the mission.
She knew him too well.
At this moment, Homelander was irritable, sensitive, and insecure; all his hostility stemmed from fear and the anger of being replaced. A direct confrontation would only drive him completely insane; only gentleness and empathy could calm him down.
Madelyn Stillwell softened her steps and slowly walked forward, her tone gentle, filled with reassurance and apology.
"I wasn't spying on you, Homelander."
"I know that all along, it has been Vought lying to you and using you. It's not just you; I, too, am kept in the dark by the company."
Her eyes were tender, her tone sincere, gradually smoothing out Homelander's restless and manic emotions.
"That fake who was impersonating you is dead; they have completely disappeared."
"Now, no one can replace you, and no one can be like you. You are still that unique, perfect, and unrivaled Homelander."
Her gentle words washed over his twisted hostility like warm water.
Homelander, who had been tense and breathing heavily, felt his manic gaze fade away, his restless body slowly relax, and the blood-red color in his eyes gradually subside.
He was extremely starved for love and validation; even fake tenderness could instantly stabilize his near-collapsing mind.
Seeing that he had completely calmed down and his emotions were no longer out of control.
Madelyn Stillwell raised her hand and gently unbuttoned her top.
Taking a step forward, she took the initiative to press her hand against the back of Homelander's head, gently cradling his head against her chest.
In the enclosed, dimly lit room, all his irritability, paranoia, and anxiety seemed to be smoothed away in this instant.
Homelander's stiff body completely relaxed, like a child who had finally received comfort and validation, quietly burying himself in her arms, enjoying this brief, false warmth.
After soothing his emotions and confirming that he was completely settled.
Madelyn Stillwell spoke slowly and softly about the matter at hand.
"But now, something has come up."
"A transoceanic flight from Paris to Chicago has been hijacked by criminals at an altitude of ten thousand meters."
"All ground military, SWAT, and rescue forces are completely helpless, and the more than one hundred civilians on board could lose their lives at any moment."
She pressed close to his ear, her voice soft but every word precise.
"Right now, only you can save them."
"Only you can prove yourself again."
"Once this is done, all the rumors, all the doubts, and all the negative voices will completely disappear."
"You will stand at the very top again, letting everyone look up to you, the one and only, once more."
Homelander slowly raised his head, the languor and dependence on his face fading, and the flames of vanity and arrogance reignited in his eyes. He needed such a high-profile rescue to solidify his supreme status and suppress all the gossip from the outside world.
He straightened up, walked to the chair nearby, picked up the pants draped casually over it, put them on slowly and deliberately, zipped them up carefully, and adjusted the hem of his shirt and his spandex suit until they were impeccable. Having done all this, he straightened his back again, his high-and-mighty demeanor fully revealed.
"I can handle this little matter all by myself," he said, his tone arrogant and filled with unquestionable force.
Madelyn Stillwell advised him at the right moment, "I believe in your strength, but public opinion is sensitive right now. To make this operation appear even more perfect and to completely shut everyone up, you should take Queen Maeve with you."
"With her cooperating in the operation, presenting the image of the Seven standing together to protect the public, Vought's image will be more stable, and your brilliance will only shine brighter."
Homelander frowned slightly upon hearing this, instinctively resisting anyone standing beside him and sharing the applause that should belong solely to him. But then he thought, Maeve always kept a low profile and could never shake his position; having her by his side would only serve to highlight his own power. After weighing it for a moment, he snorted, which counted as his agreement.
Seeing this, Madelyn Stillwell immediately added, "I have already notified Maeve to wait for you at the launch platform; you can go straight there."
Homelander said no more, adjusted his suit, turned, and walked out of the dim private suite, heading straight for the launch platform.
When he arrived at the platform, Maeve had already received the mission notification and was standing at the edge of the platform with an impatient look, clearly having been waiting for a long time.
Before Maeve could speak, Homelander stepped forward and grabbed her waist with one hand.
"Hold on," he commanded in a low, cold, and impatient voice.
As the words fell, Homelander slowly lifted off the ground, steadily gaining altitude, and carried Maeve step by step through the clouds above the city, flying rapidly toward the hijacked transoceanic flight at ten thousand meters.
Chapter 9: A Desperate Situation, Homelander Leaves Heartlessly
Marcus left the villa, soared into the air, and headed straight for Vought Tower in the city center, intending to find Edgar.
He controlled his flight speed, remaining silent the entire way without causing a single sonic boom.
After traveling for a moment, Vought Tower was already close at hand.
Just then, a figure suddenly shot up from the side of the building; it was Homelander, holding Queen Maeve with one arm, speeding away into the depths of the distant clouds.
Marcus merely glanced at them, not delving into where they were going, and immediately changed direction, flying straight to the top floor of the tower, stopping outside the window of Edgar's office, and tapped lightly on the glass.
Edgar, inside the office, heard the movement outside, looked up and saw the figure outside the window, then stood up and opened the floor-to-ceiling window.
He looked at Marcus, who was hovering outside, and asked in a calm tone: "I wonder, Mr. Vane, what brings you to see me?"
Marcus thought for a moment, did not respond to the other's question, but instead asked: "Homelander and Queen Maeve just left in a hurry; what did they go to do?"
Edgar shook his head upon hearing this: "I am not sure, I will ask for you right now."
Having said that, he picked up the communication device on the desk, connected the line to Madelyn Stillwell, and asked about the whereabouts of Homelander and Queen Maeve.
Madelyn Stillwell's voice soon came through the communicator, and she laid out the entire plan: the flight had been hijacked, she had arranged for the two of them to go and rescue it, hoping to use this to turn public opinion around.
Her words reached Marcus's ears clearly, and memories of his past life instantly flooded his mind.
He remembered that this rescue eventually turned into a tragedy, with all one hundred or so innocent people on board perishing, including many young children.
Thinking of this, Marcus's expression shifted slightly, and he looked at Edgar and said: "Regarding the matter of the monster's corpse, I will discuss it with you when I return."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stopped lingering, spread his form, and flew rapidly in the direction Homelander had left.
Marcus's figure broke through the air, heading straight for an altitude of ten thousand meters.
His speed was extremely fast, and before long, he caught up to the two figures speeding through the clouds ahead.
Homelander, who was carrying Queen Maeve ahead, instantly sensed the presence behind him, his body stiffened abruptly, he suddenly stopped his flight, and turned his head sharply to look.
The moment he saw that the person coming was Marcus, a strong sense of dread and panic welled up in his eyes, his whole body tensed, and his tone carried clear vigilance and unease.
"It's you!"
"What are you doing? This time, I didn't provoke or attack you!"
Queen Maeve, being held in his arm, was suddenly shocked, her face full of disbelief.
She had known Homelander for so many years, and had never seen him like this.
Homelander, who was usually arrogant, domineering, and viewed all living beings as ants, was now revealing clear dread and panic.
What exactly was the background of this mysterious Cosmic Superman?
To actually be able to make the insufferably arrogant Homelander dread him to this extent.
Queen Maeve was full of shock and suspicion in her heart, silently watching the two confront each other, not daring to interrupt.
Marcus's expression was calm, his gaze looking peacefully at Homelander before him, his tone without ripples: "I'm just here to take a look, just in case."
This simple sentence, however, was like a silent weight falling on Homelander's heart.
This lack of trust made his already tense emotions instantly become irritable.
He was clearly out to execute a rescue mission and restore his reputation, yet he was followed all the way by this person, as if they were afraid he would cause trouble at any moment.
Even though fear still lingered in his heart, Homelanderwas now severely stung by his strong self-esteem.
He gritted his teeth and held on, forcibly raising his voice, carrying unwillingness and bravado:
"Do you think I can't save them? Do you think I can't handle a few mere hijackers?"
Marcus did not reply, just watched him quietly.
But the more silent he was, the more this silent gaze revealed extreme mistrust.
The air was suffocating.
Homelander felt uncomfortable being watched, losing all face, and the grievance and anger in his heart kept accumulating.
He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes churning with stubbornness and a spiteful toughness, and he said in a deep voice:
"Since you don't believe me, then I will let you see for yourself whether I can do it or not!"
After saying this, Homelander said no more, took Queen Maeve and continued to accelerate forward, arriving before long at the outside of the hijacked transoceanic flight.
At this time, the cabin was in chaos, several hijackers were brandishing weapons and shouting, passengers and crew on board were terrified, cries and calls for help rose one after another, and the entire plane was completely shrouded in fear.
With a crisp sound, the cabin door was violently ripped open, the biting airflow at high altitude instantly poured in, and the powerful suction force immediately swept one hijacker who was not standing firmly out of the cabin.
The remaining hijackers hurriedly steadied themselves, and while they were still shaken, Queen Maeve had already leaped, jumping into the cabin from the doorway. Her movements were crisp and clean; she stepped forward quickly and snapped the neck of a nearby hijacker with a backhand.
At the front of the cabin, the hijacker guarding the cockpit door changed expression drastically upon seeing this, immediately raised his rifle and shouted sternly: "Don't move! If you take one more step, I'll shoot!"
But his threat was useless; Homelander, who had followed closely into the cabin, flashed a cold light in his eyes, and two scorching Heat Vision beams shot out instantly, piercing through the man's body, and the hijacker fell to the ground, losing his breath on the spot.
The crisis was temporarily resolved; the hostages in their seats cheered upon seeing this, and the joy of surviving a disaster spread through the cabin.
Just amidst this cheering, four crisp gunshots suddenly rang out one after another inside the cockpit.
Homelander's pupils constricted slightly, he immediately activated his X-ray vision to see through the cabin wall, and after seeing the scene inside, he couldn't help but curse under his breath: "Fuck you."
He immediately reached out and grabbed Queen Maeve, who was about to step toward the cockpit, and said in a deep voice: "Don't look, come with me."
Queen Maeve was full of doubts and broke free from his hand: "What on earth happened?"
Having said that, she walked straight to the cockpit door, pushed it open, and looked inside. The scene before her made her expression change drastically: the four gunshots had taken the lives of the captain and the co-pilot, another shot had shattered the plane's control panel, and the final shot was the lead hijacker choosing to end his own life after being driven into a corner.
No pilot, no control panel, completely out of control at high altitude. The plane lost all ability to be controlled, and the fuselage began to shake violently and descend rapidly.
Queen Maeve felt cold all over, staring blankly at the tragic state of the cockpit, her heart sinking to the bottom.
It's over.
At an altitude of ten thousand meters, with the plane descending, this meant that everyone on board, over a hundred lives, were all doomed to die.
Everyone in the cabin saw the bloody and desperate tragedy inside through the open cockpit door.
Cries, wails, and desperate roars resounded throughout the plane, and everyone fell into extreme panic.
A little girl sitting in the front row, her face covered in tears, was shivering. She raised her tear-streaked little face and looked tremblingly at Queen Maeve in front of her, asking softly with a childish and desperate sob:
"Queen Maeve... are we going to die?"
This childish question completely broke down Queen Maeve's defenses.
Her chest felt tight, her eyes reddened, and she turned her head sharply to look at the gloomy, silent Homelanderbehind her, her voice filled with urgency and pleading:
"Homelander, save them quickly!"
Facing everyone's expectant gazes, Homelander's expression did not move in the slightest, and he coldly spat out three words:
"Can't save them."
Queen Maeve stared at him in disbelief and said urgently: "You can! You fly down and lift the plane up!"
Homelander's eyes churned with irritation and violence, and he coldly retorted: "I can't do it. With my strength, if I force it to lift, I will only pierce straight through the entire plane, and everyone will die even faster."
Once these words were spoken, the cabin completely exploded in chaos.
A wealthy businessman with significant assets spoke tremblingly, his tone full of crazy pleading: "I have money! I have countless assets! As long as you can save me, I will donate a huge amount of funds to Vought Group, as much as you want!"
The parents of the children around them broke down in tears, stepping forward one after another to beg, cries of "save the children" echoing continuously in the panicked cabin, humble and desperate.
Looking at the helpless children and the broken people, Queen Maeve still refused to give up, gritting her teeth and pleading:
"Even if you can't save everyone, at least save the children! They are still young, they can't just die here like this!"
The continuous pleading, questioning, and expectations completely crushed Homelander, whose mental state was already shattered.
He completely lost control of his emotions, a red glow appeared in his eyes, and he roared sternly at everyone who surrounded him:
"Back off! Everyone back off!"
His crimson gaze swept across the entire scene, carrying endless madness, and he roared loudly:
"Everyone stay in the back and don't move! Whoever dares to take one more step forward, I'll kill you right now!"
A deathly silence instantly enveloped the cabin, and everyone was scared stiff by his crazed appearance, not daring to make another sound.
Immediately, Homelander turned his head and stared fixedly at Queen Maeve, his tone icy and bone-chilling, carrying an ultimatum:
"Now, you either stay here and die with them, or come with me. I'll give you three seconds to choose."
Death was close at hand; facing Homelander's completely irrational threat, Queen Maeve felt cold all over, her heart filled with powerlessness and despair.
She looked at the shivering children, looked at the desperate and helpless ordinary people in the cabin, her voice choked, and she repeated softly, full of guilt:
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I can't save you..."
As soon as the words fell, Homelander did not linger for even a fraction of a second, grabbed Queen Maeve's waist with one hand, leaped, and rushed straight out of the bumpy, falling airliner.
Chapter 10: Hands Stained with Blood, A One-Year Pact
The passenger plane, out of control at an altitude of ten thousand meters, still carried immense inertia as it plummeted rapidly toward the clouds below.
Marcus hovered at a high altitude not far away; he did not have X-ray vision, but he possessed super hearing.
The frantic cries of everyone in the cabin, the helpless sobbing of children, the humble pleas of the crowd, as well as the recent manic roars and heartless choice of Homelander, all reached his ears without missing a single word.
Just then, two figures broke through the cabin vent and sped out.
It was Homelander, who had abandoned everyone on the plane and was fleeing alone with Maeve.
Marcus looked at the approaching Homelander with a calm gaze; his tone was devoid of any ripples, yet every word was sharp, piercing straight to the heart:
"It seems you are not suited to be a superhero."
As the words fell, he did not wait for Homelander, whose expression had suddenly changed, to retort, nor did he give the other party any chance to defend himself.
Marcus moved, instantly flashing to a position directly beneath the rapidly falling passenger plane.
He braced his arms firmly, his sturdy back straightened, and he hoisted it upward.
The immense impact of the fall was instantly and steadily absorbed.
The entire commercial airliner, weighing tens of tons, shuddered violently for a moment before coming to a steady halt at an altitude of ten thousand meters.
"This is impossible!"
Homelander stared fixedly at the scene before him, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
In an instant, endless panic and despair swept through his mind.
He sobered up instantly.
If everyone on this plane survived, everyone would know his true face: abandoning innocent civilians, fearing disaster, and refusing to save those in need.
His perfect hero persona would completely collapse, public opinion would crash, and he would be reduced to a coward and a lunatic despised by everyone.
He would be completely finished then.
Extreme fear instantly devoured his remaining rationality.
Homelander's eyes instantly turned red, murderous intent surged within them, and without hesitation, he mobilized all the power within him; scorching red light gathered crazily in his eyes.
He had to destroy this plane!
He had to make everyone shut up!
Maeve, standing to the side, saw the murderous intent in his eyes. Her heart stopped, and she reached out desperately to stop him: "Stop! You've gone mad!"
But at this moment, Homelander was already completely insane, with only the obsession to destroy everything left in his heart.
He backhanded her with a fierce swing, his immense strength sending Maeve flying away.
Maeve lost control of her body, plummeting straight down from the high altitude, the gale tearing at her body; she had no time to react.
Marcus, who was stabilizing the passenger plane, took all of this in.
Seeing Homelander determined to slaughter the innocent people on the entire plane and having cruelly knocked Maeve away, his gaze suddenly turned cold.
Without the slightest hesitation, Marcus raised his hand and pushed upward violently.
The heavy commercial airliner instantly broke free from its downward trajectory, shooting straight up into the high altitude like a rocket, completely avoiding the lock-on range of the Heat Vision.
Almost at the same instant, Marcus's figure suddenly vanished from where he stood.
The speed was so fast that not even a single afterimage was left behind.
At the very moment before Homelander could fully release his Heat Vision, Marcus had already appeared before him.
Before this strongest superhero could make any reaction, two strikes, faster than thought, were slammed out.
Bang!
A dull yet crisp explosion erupted in the high altitude.
Everything happened in a flash; Homelander, who had just been maniacally rampaging and intending to slaughter hundreds, instantly ceased all movement.
At this time, Maeve had only fallen a few meters; the whole process took no more than the blink of an eye, and this horrific slaughter had already ended.
Marcus reached out with a backhand, steadily catching the falling Maeve by the wrist and supporting her firmly in mid-air.
The whole process was steady and gentle, a stark contrast to the extreme ferocity he had just used to kill Homelander.
Holding Maeve, he looked up and leaped forward, instantly catching up to the passenger plane that was still gliding at high altitude.
Supporting the fuselage with one hand, his immense power steadily bore the weight of the entire plane as he flew rapidly toward the safe coastline below.
Maeve hovered in mid-air, having witnessed the entire breathtaking process with her own eyes.
Hoisting a falling passenger plane with his bare hands, instantly killing the rampaging Homelander, and saving her as she fell.
In just a few seconds, it had overturned all her perceptions.
She looked up at that tall, upright figure, completely dumbfounded, her mind blank, unable to recover for a long time.
Speeding along the way, after a moment.
Marcus steadily carried the passenger plane to the open, flat coastline and slowly landed the plane smoothly.
The cabin door opened, and the shaken passengers walked off the plane one after another, looking at the safe coastline before them, still feeling lingering fear.
When they saw the figure who had supported the plane and saved everyone, they instantly realized who it was.
It was the Cosmic Superman who had appeared out of nowhere and caused a sensation on the internet a few days ago!
In an instant, all the survivors were moved to tears, stepping forward one after another to express their gratitude, and the sounds of thanks echoed incessantly along the coast.
Marcus's expression was indifferent; he had no intention of staying to respond.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, a few young children mustered up the courage to run forward, speaking timidly, wanting to take a commemorative photo with him.
Looking at the pure and sincere eyes of the children, Marcus paused slightly and gave his tacit consent.
After simply cooperating with the children to finish the photo, he turned to look at Maeve, who was still in a daze, and spoke indifferently:
"The people here, I leave them in your care."
As the words fell, he did not linger; his figure flashed, and he flew straight toward the Vought Tower.
High-altitude currents rushed past as Marcus's figure instantly traversed the city skyline, and before long, he returned to the top floor of the Vought Tower.
He landed directly inside Edgar's open floor-to-ceiling window, his posture composed and steady.
The office was deathly silent.
Edgar stood quietly in place, his gaze locked firmly on Marcus's hands, his pupils slightly constricted, and he remained completely silent.
On those palms, there was fresh, scarlet blood that had not yet dried, which was incredibly glaring.
The air was oppressively quiet.
Facing Edgar's silent gaze, Marcus's expression was calm and ripple-free, his tone calm and straightforward, without any concealment:
"This is Homelander's blood."
"I killed him."
Edgar's expression quickly returned to normal, and he said slowly: "Homelander kept provoking you, so meeting this end is entirely his own fault. You need not worry; this matter will not affect our cooperation."
Marcus did not dwell on the matter of Homelander any further, changing the subject to ask: "That monster, how is your research going?"
"Our team has made a major discovery," Edgar replied truthfully. "The substance extracted from the monster's body can not only significantly increase the success rate of using the first-generation and ordinary Compound V, but also further enhance the potency of the serum."
Marcus pressed: "When can it be mass-produced? Roughly how much can be produced?"
"To completely eliminate side effects and ensure safety, it will take at least one year at the earliest. As for the specific output, it is currently impossible to estimate," Edgarreplied.
"Very well, I will come to find you again in one year." Marcus's gaze was calm, his tone carrying a hint of a warning, "I hope you will not deceive me then."
Having said this, he said no more, turned and stepped out of the office, and took flight, leaving the Vought Tower.